Disposable cups are manufactured en masse, offering suitable containers for everything from water and soft drinks to your favorite cup of coffee or latte. Restaurants, cafes, diners and even fast food restaurants use disposable drinkware.
Why?
They are:
- Easy to serve and dispose of without washing
- Affordable with many material options, such as plastic and compostable
- Available from suppliers in quantities of hundreds and even thousands
If you're the owner or manager of an eco-friendly, responsible restaurant, you may want to choose your disposable drinking cups carefully. Some are made of plastic, while others are biodegradable and will decompose in a few months.
We're going to share the most common disposable cup materials, explain which are eco-friendly and help you make a responsible choice.
5 Most Common Materials Used in Disposable Drinking Cups
You'll find disposable cups for hot drinks, cold drinks and even frozen ones. While companies are always trying to innovate the market with new material options for their cups, these are the most popular:
Plastic Cups
Plastic is popular. You can find these cups in any supermarket or in bulk at places like Sam's Club and Costco. Eateries choose plastic for a few reasons:
- Price is more affordable than something like biodegradable materials.
- Colorful drinks are easy to showcase with transparent cups.
- Plastic cups are easy to stack and transport.
With plastic, you never have to worry about the material breaking. Aside from not being eco-friendly, this material is perfect for all sorts of sodas, smoothies and juices.
If you prefer to recycle, be sure the material is PET or RPET before purchasing.
Biodegradable / Compostable Cups
If your main focus is eco-friendliness, biodegradable cups are a great option. Many of these cups are made from the following materials:
- Cornstarch
- Sugarcane
- Compostable
- Polylactic acid (PLA)
Your customers care about their impact on the environment, and while costlier than plastic, your purchasing option shows responsibility. Choose a material based on drink type. Some materials have better insulation than others, making them a good choice for hot drinks.
PLA provides an interior liner for these cups, offering strong liquid resistance for paper cups, which are next on our list.
Paper Cups
Do you drink coffee from restaurants or diners? If so, you are already familiar with paper cups. Consumers already know about and have used paper cups in some form. One of the main perks is that with a sleeve or double wall design, paper offers superb insulation.
But many paper cups have a thin plastic lining that makes recycling a challenge.
If the cup doesn't have this liner, it will be biodegradable.
Foam Cups
It seems like foam is becoming less prevalent. But foam offers better insulating properties than even double-wall designs and is very lightweight.
So, what's the drawback?
Foam fills landfills to the point that many cities have banned them.
Polystyrene Cups
Another rigid plastic cup, this drinkware is ideal for branding and is resistant to cracking. Sadly, these cups do contribute to plastic waste.
What's the Most Eco-Friendly Disposable Cup?
Compostable disposable cups for hot drinks or cold drinks are the most eco-friendly option on the list. You just need to verify that the cups you choose do not have plastic liners in them.
What are Coffee Cups Made Of?
Disposable coffee cups can be made from a variety of materials, some better than others, including:
- Paper: An increasingly popular option at coffee chains. These disposable drinking cups are typically coated with a special lining to make them waterproof and greaseproof. You'll find options that are single-, double- or triple-walled, which improve insulation (important for hot beverages).
- Compostable: These options are biodegradable and contain no plastic. They are typically made from plant-based starches, like corn or sugarcane.
- Foam: Although not environmentally friendly, these disposable cups are popular for hot beverages. They're lightweight and cheap, but they're rarely recyclable.
- Plastic: These cups are normally made from PET or PP plastics. They're more commonly used for iced coffee than hot beverages, as heat can cause them to leak chemicals.
How to Choose the Best Eco-Friendly Disposable Cups
There are several things to consider when choosing eco-friendly disposable drinkware, including:
Degradation Time
If you prefer to offer biodegradable cups, one important consideration is the time it takes to break down and under what environmental conditions.
Being able to advertise that your disposable cups are biodegradable can be a big perk, especially if your audience values this feature.
Degradation times vary greatly, depending on whether the product is suitable for:
- Home composting. Breakdown times are slower, and proper degradation requires moderate temperature and moisture.
- Industrial composting. Takes place in a specialized facility with high heat and humidity. Breakdown takes just a few weeks, but customers have to take extra steps to compost these types of cups.
Consider your audience and which option would be more attractive.
Food Safety Approvals
It's important to remember that your cups will come into contact with beverages or even food. Make sure that the cup's materials are food-safe and meet stringent safety standards.
Look for cups that have FDA or EU food contact approvals.
Durability
Some eco-friendly cups are more durable than others. Look for options that have excellent water resistance to prevent leaks and ensure a comfortable user experience.
Paper cups can be a great eco-friendly option, but they need to be properly constructed to avoid issues during use.
High-quality eco-friendly cups have special coatings or treatments that enhance their durability and heat resistance. These options are ideal for both hot and cold beverages without breaking down easily or warping.
Pricing and Supply Chain Stability
Costs are always a concern for any eatery. Ideally, you'll find disposable cups that are affordable and environmentally friendly.
But cost isn't the only concern. You need a reliable supplier to avoid delays and stock shortages that could impact your operations.